A29703:342
The privy key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse…The privie key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse…
The privy key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse on that subject with the resolution of several considerable questions : the main objections also against closet-prayer are here answered ... with twenty special lessons ... that we are to learn by that severe rod, the pestilence that now rageth in the midst of us / by Thomas Brooks.The privie key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse on that subject with the resolution of several considerable questions : the main objections also against closet-prayer are here answered ... with twenty special lessons ... that we are to learn by that severe rod, the pestilence that now rageth in the midst of us / by Thomas Brooks.
London : Printed for and are to be sold by John Hancock, 1665
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Cato held, That an account must be given not only of our labour, but also of our leisure. And Aelian gives this testimony of the Lacedaemonians, That they were hugely covetous of their time, spending it all about necessary things, and suffering ⟨p. 147⟩no Citizen either to be idle or play. And, saith another, We trifle with that which is most precious, and throw away that which is our greatest interest to redeem.
Cato held, That an account must be given not only of our labour, but also of our leisure. And Aelian gives this testimony of the Lacedemonians, That they were hugely covetous of their time, spending it all about necessary things, and suffering ⟨p. 147⟩no Citizen either to be idle or play. And, saith another, We trifle with that which is most precious, and throw away that which is our greatest interest to redeem.
Certainly, these Heathens will tise in Judgment, not only against Domitian the Roman Emperor, who spent much of his time in killing of flies; nor only against Archimedes, who spent his time in drawing lines on the ground when Syracuse was taken; nor against Artaxerxes, who spent his time in in making hafts for knives; nor only against Solyman the great Turk, who spent his time in making notches of horn for bows; nor only against Ero••s a Macedonian king, who spent his time in making of Lanterns; nor only against Harcatus the king of Parthia who spent his time in catching of Moles. But also against many Professors, who in stead of redeeming of precious time, do trifle and fool away much of their precious time at the Glass, the Comb, the Lute▪ the ⟨p. 148⟩Viol, the Pipe, or at vain sports, and foolish pastimes, or by idle jestings, immoderate sleeping, and superfluous feasting, &c. O Sirs, good hours, and blessed opportunities for closet prayer, are merchandise of the highest rate and price; and therefore, whosoever hath a mind to be rich in grace, and to be high in glory, should buy up that merchandise, they should be still a redeeming precious time. O Sirs, we should redeem time for private prayer, out of our eating time, our drinking time, our sleeping time, our buying time, our selling time, our sinning time, our sporting time, rather than neglect our Closet communion with God, &c. But,